Folding chair.



W. A. CLAY.

FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED M231. 1013.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHDTOLIT"- MIASPHNGYON D. C.

W. A,. CLAY.

FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY31,1913.

1, 11 8,530. Patented Nov. 24, 1914 SHEETSSKEET 2. :16 M 9 z 223"; X%%WT HIE NORRIS PErERS c0. PHOTO-Luna. WASHINGTON. I:v I:

WILLIAM A. CLAY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 31, 1913. Serial No. 770,854.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. CLAY, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding, Chairs,.

which improvement, is fully set forth in the followingspecification and shown in the accompanying drawings.

r The present invention relates to folding chairs, seats or stools and an ob e ct of the same is to provide a structurewhlch 1s inexpensive to manufacture and is strong and durable in use, and which may be folded into smallcompass to permit it to be readily carried or stored. i

To these and other ends theinvention consists in certain parts and comb nations of parts all of which will be herelnafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the chair or stool folded; Fig. 2 is a side view of the device ready for use; Fig. 3 is a sectionalview through thesame when folded; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectlon through the device when ready for use; Fig. 5 is a front View of the chair; Fig. 6 is a section through the chair at right angles to that shown in Fig. 4, the back being lowered; and Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views showing the connection of the braces with the legs.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, there is 1 provided a seat portion preferably comprising a rectangular frame 1 havingthe uppersurface thereof countersunk to receive a bottom 2 made of pap1ermach, leather or similar thin material.

The supporting means for the seat preferably embodiestwo supports. One of these supports comprises two legs 3 connected by a cross piece f and pivoted at their upper ends at 5 tothe inner faces of opposite sides oftherectangular frame so that they may be folded to be housed within said frame, the length of the said legs being just sufficient to be received within the frame. The other support also embodies two legs or standards 3 connected by a cross piece 4, the distance between thelegs 3 beingless than the distance between the legs 3, and said legs 3, instead of being ivoted to the sides of the frame 1, being pivoted to the ends of a block 6 which is secured to one of the sides of and within the rectangular frame 1. The legs 3 are also formed near their lower ends with recesses 7. supports to be folded within the latter. The legs 3 lie on the outer sides of the legs 3 and the cross piece f is received within the notches 7. Of course, must be folded within the frame legs 3 for otherwise the legs gage the cross piece 4.

Suitable means may be provided for 3 would enbracing the legs in their open positions. In the legs 3 are provided 13 mounted to turn on the seat in a manner to be described and forming with the braces 12 a U-shaped member. The legs 3 ma} also be formed with longitudinal ways or grooves 8 in which work laterally-turned portions 11 on braces 12, the latter being connected at their-other ends by a portion 18 pivoted in a manner to be described. It will be noted that the guide 8 does not have any notches or recesses at its end but it is provided at its upper part with a pocket 10 in whichthe projection l1 enters to hold the legs open.

In order to provide a firm support for the brace members, a sheet metal plate l4iS extended across or bridges the rectangular frame and has its opposite edges rolled at 15 to provide bearing sleeves for the horizontal portions of the U-shapedbrace members.

. To fold the legs or supports of the chair, the braces 12 are moved laterally at their Patented NOV. 24, 19.14.

the legs 3 before the This arrangement permits both M rectangular frame 1 so as to be entirely protected by the Operating in each lower ends to removethem from the pockets 1 the slots 8". The other support which has the legs 3 can then be folded inwardly by flexing the braces 12 to remove their ends 11 from the pockets 10 and the upper notches 9,

after which theends 11 would travel in the ways or grooves 8 until the support is folded and the ends of the braces enter the lower notches 9 and lower pockets 10. These lower notches 9 are provided in order that the braces 12 will lie flush with those faces of the legs 3 which are opposed to the legs {3 and, in this way, the legs 3 and 3 may he close or in contact with each other, thus giving a compact arrangement. The-upper notches 9 also permit the braces 9 to lie flush with legs 8 so that such braces will not interfere with the swinging of the other support.

The chair may be provided with a back which may embody a U-shaped member 16 formed of wire or a rod and having the free ends of its arms turned inwardly and pivoted to the outside faces of the rectangular frame 1 substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of said frame. This arrangement permits the back frame to swing so that its arms hug the sides of the chair seat and its horizontal connecting portion lies in proximity to the front wall of the seat. The back frame may be provided with a looped or bent portion 18 to form a handle for carrying the chair or stool. The sides of the back frame may beconnected by a rest or cross piece 19 which may be ornamentally shaped and may be mounted to slide on the side arms of the back frame for-the purpose to be described. Preferably thisrest or cross piece is formed from sheet metal and has forwardly offset flanges 20 at its vertical edges, said flanges being'formed with grooves 21 for receiving the side arms of the back frame. This arrangement prevents the rest or cross piece interfering with the folding of the back because the main portion of the rest or cross piece is in a plane in rear of the back frame, the flanges, when the back frame is lowered, lying on opposite sides of the rectangular bottom frame as will be seen by referring to Fig. 6, while the rest or cross piece 19 lies close to the upper surface of the bottom and will permit the chair to be used as a stool without a back as shown in this figure.

To support the back in its upright position, braces 22 may be provided, the latter being pivoted at their lower ends at 23 to the outer faces of the rectangular frame below the pivots of the back frame. The upper ends of the braces are pivoted at 24 to lips25 extending from the flanges 20. WVith this arrangement, the swinging of the back frame toward or from its upright position causes the back rest 19 to slide on the upright arms of the back frame, this being due to the fact that the braces 12 are connected to .the back piece 19. Straps 26 hold the rest or cross piece to the back frame.

A chair or stool constructed in accordance with this invention is especially designed for use in places where space has to be taken into consideration, such, for instance,

as in automobiles, and camps and for viewing parades, the stool or chair being easlly carried. The supporting means or legs are very strong and are braced in such a mannor that they may be readily folded into compact form. The back is so. constructed thatit does not add materially to the weight of the chair nor does it take up very much space when folded. It serves as a handle for carrying the chair and it does not in terfere with the use of the chair as a stool.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: j

1. The combination with a rectangular frame, and a sheet of material covering the upper side of said frame, of a strip ofsheet metal bridging said frame and having its opposite edges rolled to provide bearings, a pair of supports hinged to the frame to swing inwardly within said frame, each of said supports having a pair of legs provided with longitudinal grooves, anda pair of U- shaped brace members each of which has a horizontal portion turning one of the rolled bearings and also has a pair of arms with laterally turned ends operating in the grooves of the legs.

2. The combination with a rectangular frame and a sheet of material closing one side'of the frame, of a strip of sheet metal bridging the frame and having opposite edges rolled to provide bearings, a pair of supports pivoted to the frame and each embodying two legs formed with longitudinal grooves, the legs of one support being received between the legs of the other support, and the legs of the outer support having recesses at the lower ends of their grooves, and a pair of brace members each embodying a horizontal portion turning in one of the rolled portions and arms having laterally-turned ends working in the grooves of the legs, the arms cooperating with the outer legs being received within the recesses when the legs are folded within the rectangular frame.

3. In a folding chair, the combination with a bottom frame, of a back framevpivotally mounted thereon, across piece connecting the sides of the back frame and guided on the latter, andbraces pivoted to arms pivoted to the bottom frame, said back nected to the bottom frame and to the cross irame beifilg acia lacieg to fit agoutl the bottom piece.

mme W en 0 e tower t e atter a cross piece formed from sheet metal a nd WVILLIAM CLAY having forwardly extending flanges at its WVitnesses:

opposite edges grooved to receive the arms HAROLD H. SIMMs,

of the back frame, and braces pivotally con+ ADA M. VHITMORE.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cente each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents; Washington, 1).0." 

